Flow module placement between a subsea tree and a tubing hanger spool

Abstract

A subsea wellhead assembly positions a flow module between an outboard flowline of a subsea tree and a tubing hanger spool flowline. The subsea production assembly includes a wellhead, a tubing hanger spool disposed on the wellhead, and a subsea tree disposed on the tubing hanger spool. Production fluid may flow from the wellhead through the tubing hanger spool, and then through the tree. A tubing hanger spool frame mounts to and extends laterally from the tubing hanger spool and supports a downstream flowline having an upward facing hub. A tree frame mounts to and extends laterally from the subsea tree and supports an upstream flowline having an upward facing hub. A flow module having downward facing flowlines that couple to the hubs so that the weight of the flow module is distributed between the frames of the tubing hanger spool and the subsea tree.

1 . A subsea production assembly comprising:
 a wellhead having an axis;   a tubing hanger spool disposed on the wellhead axially above the wellhead so that production fluid may flow from the wellhead through the tubing hanger spool;   a tubing hanger spool frame mounted to and extending laterally from the tubing hanger spool;   a downstream flowline having an upward facing hub that is supported by the tubing hanger spool frame;   a subsea tree disposed on the tubing hanger spool axially above the tubing hanger spool so that production fluid may flow from the tubing hanger spool through the tree;   a tree frame mounted to and extending laterally from the subsea tree;   an upstream flowline supported by the tree frame and connected to the tree, the upstream flowline having an upward facing hub;   a flow module having downward facing flowlines that couple to the hubs, such that flow from the tree passes in a flow path from the upstream flowline through the flow module and directly to the downstream flowline on the tubing hanger spool; and   wherein the weight of the flow module is distributed between the frame of the tubing hanger spool and the frame of the subsea tree.   
     
     
         2 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flow module comprises a choke bridge module. 
     
     
         3 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tree frame is located in a plane parallel to and above the tubing hanger spool frame. 
     
     
         4 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a downward facing flowline that lands on and connects to the hub of the downstream flowline has a greater length than a downward facing flowline that lands on and connects to the hub of the upstream flowline. 
     
     
         5 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hubs are located on a same side of the tree. 
     
     
         6 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hub of the downstream flowline is at a lower elevation than the hub of the upstream flowline. 
     
     
         7 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tree frame includes a hub supporting portion that supports the hub of the upstream flowline that is at a higher elevation than, but not directly above, the tubing hanger spool frame. 
     
     
         8 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing hanger spool frame includes a hub supporting portion that supports the hub of the downstream flowline and is at a lower elevation than, but not directly below, the tree frame. 
     
     
         9 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tree frame includes a hub supporting portion that supports the hub of the upstream flowline that is at a higher elevation than, but not directly above, the tubing hanger spool frame; and   the tubing hanger spool frame includes a hub supporting portion that supports the hub of the downstream flowline and is at a lower elevation than, but not directly below, the tree frame.   
     
     
         10 . A subsea production assembly comprising:
 a wellhead having an axis;   a tubing hanger spool disposed on the wellhead axially above the wellhead so that production fluid may flow from the wellhead through the tubing hanger spool;   a tubing hanger spool frame mounted to and extending laterally from the tubing hanger spool;   a downstream flowline having an upward facing hub that is supported by the tubing hanger spool frame, the upward facing hub secured to the tubing hanger spool frame;   a subsea tree disposed on the tubing hanger spool axially above the tubing hanger spool so that production fluid may flow from the tubing hanger spool through the tree;   a tree frame mounted to and extending laterally from the subsea tree;   an upstream flowline supported by the tree frame and connected to the tree, the upstream flowline having an upward facing hub secured to the tree frame;   a choke bridge module having downward facing flowlines that couple to the hubs, such that flow from the tree passes in a flow path from the upstream flowline through the choke bridge module and the downstream flowline;   wherein the weight of the choke bridge module is distributed between the frame of the tubing hanger spool and the frame of the subsea tree;   wherein the hub of the downstream flowline is at a lower elevation than the hub of the upstream flowline;   wherein the tree frame includes a hub supporting portion that supports the hub of the upstream flowline that is at a higher elevation than, but not directly above, the tubing hanger spool frame;   wherein the tubing hanger spool frame includes a hub supporting portion that supports the hub of the downstream flowline and is at a lower elevation than, but not directly below, the tree frame; and   wherein any weight transferred to the upward facing hubs by the choke bridge module is further transferred to the tubing hanger spool frame and the subsea tree frame.   
     
     
         11 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the tree frame is located in a plane parallel to and above the tubing hanger spool frame. 
     
     
         12 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a downward facing flowline that lands on and connects to the hub of the downstream flowline has a greater length than a downward facing flowline that lands on and connects to the hub of the upstream flowline. 
     
     
         13 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the hubs are located on a same side of the tree. 
     
     
         14 . A subsea production assembly comprising:
 a wellhead having an axis;   a tubing hanger spool disposed on the wellhead axially above the wellhead so that production fluid may flow from the wellhead through the tubing hanger spool;   a tubing hanger spool frame mounted to and extending laterally from the tubing hanger spool;   a downstream flowline having an horizontally facing hub that is supported by the tubing hanger spool frame, the horizontally facing hub secured to the tubing hanger spool frame;   a subsea tree disposed on the tubing hanger spool axially above the tubing hanger spool so that production fluid may flow from the tubing hanger spool through the tree;   a tree frame mounted to and extending laterally from the subsea tree; and   an upstream flowline supported by the tree frame and connected to the tree, the upstream flowline having an horizontally facing hub secured to the tree frame;   wherein the downstream flowline horizontally facing hub and the upstream flowline horizontally facing hub are on a same side of and face horizontally away from the tree;   a choke bridge module having downward facing flowlines with horizontal terminations that couple to the hubs, such that flow from the tree passes in a flow path from the upstream flowline through the choke bridge and directly to the downstream flowline on the tubing hanger spool;   wherein the weight of the choke bridge module is distributed between the frame of the tubing hanger spool and the frame of the subsea tree;   wherein the hub of the downstream flowline is at a lower elevation than the hub of the upstream flowline;   wherein the tree frame includes a hub supporting portion that supports the hub of the upstream flowline that is at a higher elevation than, but not directly above, the tubing hanger spool frame;   wherein the tubing hanger spool frame includes a hub supporting portion that supports the hub of the downstream flowline and is at a lower elevation than, but not directly below, the tree frame; and   wherein any weight transferred to the horizontally facing hubs by the choke bridge module is further transferred to the tubing hanger spool frame and the subsea tree frame.   
     
     
         15 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the tree frame is located in a plane parallel to and above the tubing hanger spool frame. 
     
     
         16 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a downward facing flowline that lands on and connects to the hub of the downstream flowline has a greater length than a downward facing flowline that lands on and connects to the hub of the upstream flowline. 
     
     
         17 . The subsea production assembly of  claim 14  further comprising:
 at least one horizontal shift assistance mechanism coupled to at least one of the tree frame and the tubing hanger spool frame; and 
 wherein the horizontal shift assistance mechanism is further coupled to the choke bridge module so that the at least one horizontal shift assistance mechanism may shift the choke bridge module horizontally to connect the downward facing flowlines of the choke bridge module to the horizontally facing hubs. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method for assembling a subsea production assembly, comprising:
 (a) landing and setting a tubing hanger spool on a subsea wellhead, the tubing hanger spool including a tubing hanger spool flowline having a tubing hanger spool hub at a first location;   (b) running, landing, and setting a subsea tree on the tubing hanger spool, the subsea tree including a subsea tree flowline having a subsea tree hub located proximate to the first location; then   (c) running, landing, and setting a flow module on the subsea tree and the tubing hanger spool, such that the weight of the flow module is partially supported by the subsea tree and partially supported by the tubing hanger spool.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein step (c) comprises:
 aligning an outboard flowline of the flow module with the tubing hanger spool flowline;   aligning an inboard flowline of the flow module with the outboard flowline of the subsea tree;   stabbing the outboard flowline of the flow module into the tubing hanger spool flowline while stabbing the inboard flowline of the flow module into the inboard flowline of the subsea tree; then   coupling a frame of the flow module to the frame of the subsea tree and a frame of the tubing hanger spool so that the flow module does not move relative to the subsea tree or the tubing hanger spool.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising stabbing the outboard flowline of the flow module into an upward facing hub of the tubing hanger spool flowline, while stabbing the inboard flowline of the flow module into an upward facing hub of the subsea tree flowline. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 stabbing the outboard flowline of the flow module into a horizontally facing hub of the tubing hanger spool flowline;   stabbing the inboard flowline of the flow module into a horizontally facing hub of the subsea tree flowline; and   actuating a horizontal shift assistance mechanism to shift the flow module horizontally to stab the outboard and inboard flowlines of the flow module in the horizontally facing hubs.